William Ettinger

William Ettinger is a Professor in the Biology department at Gonzaga University, actively leading multiple sections of the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since 2015. He directs both in situ phage discovery courses (BIOL 105L) and in silico phage genomics courses (BIOL 207L) with consistent enrollment across undergraduate cohorts.

His research spans Microbiology, Phage Genomics, and Bioinformatics, utilizing diverse bacterial hosts including Mycobacterium smegmatis, Microbacterium foliorum, and Arthrobacter globiformis. Course structures involve 3-hour weekly sessions integrating wet-lab techniques with computational analysis, emphasizing authentic research experiences for sophomores and juniors.

As a core SEA-PHAGES instructor, Ettinger has mentored over 250 undergraduate students through 20+ course sections between 2015-2024. His HHMI-funded program participation demonstrates significant involvement in national science education initiatives advancing genomic literacy through phage research. Current Fall 2024 sections confirm ongoing active faculty status.